KOLKATA, Apr 4 (UNI): Former world billiards champion Geet Sethi today said he had set his eyes on the Doha Asian Games to attain greater glory.
Sethi, who was here to interact with the corporates, said, "I am enthused and motivated.
My next assignment is the Doha Asian Games in 2006 and I want to do well there." "Its a tremendous setting there.
I want to do well at that stage.
Billiards has been a part of the last two Asian Games in Bangkok and Busan.
Its a really great competition there." "India is good in Billiards.
We have had some good players.
But in snooker we are still a few steps behind.
But India is driven by achievement and Pankaj Advani could get that," he said.
"The advent of players like Pankaj Advani and O P Agarwal will create the revolution needed for snooker," he added.
The game is certainly growing in India, he said.
"When I became the billiards champion, I was the youngest player then at 24 years.
Pankaj became the champion only at 19 year 8 months." Problem of plenty for Gavaskar-led panel for Super Series LONDON, Apr 4 (UNI): The six-member selection panel faces a problem of plenty as host of players-with sound performance stake early claims for inclusion in the initial ICC World XI squads for the Johnnie Walker ICC Super Series in Australia, according to Sunil Gavaskar, who heads the group of former greats.
An ICC release here today quoted Gavaskar, who is chairman of the selection panel, as saying,"Although the selectors will look at players' records over the past year, there's no doubt that eye-catching and match-winning performances are bound to attract our attention before we meet as a panel for the first time." "It's important that all players outside Australia realise they are in contention for places in the ICC World XI Test and One Day squads that will be selected for these prestigious games.
That applies equally to established stars and promising young talent.
Proven players like (Rahul) Dravid, (Anil) Kumble, (Virender Sehwag), Inzamam-ul Haq and Younis Khan were outstanding in the recent Indo-Pak Test series.
And so were emerging players like Danish Kaneria, Shahid Afridi, and Lakshimipathy Balaji," he said.
"One of the factors we'll be looking at is how players have performed against Australia.
So obviously individuals who caught the eye in the recent series between New Zealand and Australia like Hamish Marshall with his first Test century, Daniel Vettori, who bowled and batted well against them, and Nathan Astle with runs in the top order, will be pushing to stake a claim," he added.
The six-man selection panel of former greats headed by the ex-India captain includes Mike Atherton, Richard Hadlee, Clive Lloyd, Jonty Rhodes and Aravinda de Silva and is due to meet later this month to select the initial squads of 30 players for the three One Day Internationals and the six-day Test against world champion Australia.
"It's going to be a tremendous challenge as well as a real privilege to pick from the best players outside Australia in selecting the 30 players who we believe will be best equipped to take on this ultimate cricketing test in both forms of the game," Gavaskar said.
Combined prize money and match payments for the three match one-day series in Melbourne will be 1.254 million dollar, while the total money available for the six-day Super Test in Sydney will be 1.390 million.
A decision reached by the ICC Executive Board at its recent meeting in New Delhi means the matches will be accorded official Test and ODI status.
The challenge awaiting the selected ICC World XI teams is to succeed where national sides have mostly failed.
Australia has not lost a home Test series since 1993 and is undefeated in a One Day International series since 2002.
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